Given the number of hits both this blog and the Daily Republic site have received since the video of my now-infamous Tasing, it appears that many of you (including my friends and family) are enjoying a slightly-cooked reporter.

Now, it’s time to describe the classroom lessons that led to my electric song.

We met earlier than usual this week. Instead of the usual PD room, this week’s classroom was located south of town and featured a line of blue humanoid targets and a picnic table lined with Glock pistols and the MP5, the SWAT gun used during room clearing training that I long have daydreamed to fire.

The MP5 has three settings: single shot, double shot (meaning it fires two bullets with every pull of the trigger) and fully automatic.

This week’s class involved various forms of abuse. It will feature some graphic content. Please read at your own discretion.

You will see no pictures, as instructor Kelly Knippling asked that I refrain from taking any. The victims we saw were all local. The baby who had scalding milk thrown it its face, the child with cigarette burns on the arms…all of these children were or are area residents.

On April 19, 1995, 168 people died when a rental truck carrying almost 5,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate and fuel ignited in front of Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.

One hour later, a 27-year-old white male was pulled over for driving a vehicle with no license plate. He was taken into custody for the offense as well as possessing an illegal firearm.

Three days later, officers figured out that Timothy McVeigh – the man behind the wheel of the 1977 Mercury Marquis with no license plate – was the mastermind and perpetrator of the bombing.